Release device



Sept. 16, 1930. D, MAPES 1,775,649

' RELEASE DEVICE Filed Jan. 29, 1929 .9 3 IN VENTOR Patented Sept. 16, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DANIEL MES, 02? MAMARONECK, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO WALTER KIDDE 80 COM- PANY, INCL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK RELEASE DEVICE Application filed January 29, .1929. Serial No. 335,809.

This invention relates to devices for effecting the release of a fluid under pressure, such as carbon dioxide, for example, when conditions arise which render desirable the release of such fluid by manually controlled means or by automatic means, such as those brought into operation by the rise of temperature incident, for example, to the outbreak of fire which is to be extinguished by the released m fluid. A device of this character-and intended for the same general purpose is shownand described in Letters Patent of the United States, No. 1,751,705, dated March 25,1930,and in the construction now to be described, as in -that described in 'said patent, the container in which the fluid is held under pressure is sealed against leakage by a seal, such as a relatively frangible disc, which is normally held in place against a seat provided for it why a support which is held normally against movement by restraining devices which can be released so as to permit the support to yield and the seal to be ruptured by the pressure of the fluid against it, the support being also formed sothat the seal will give way to an abnormal internal pressure and permit the contents ofthe container to escape without rupturing the container. The present invention is concerned particularly with the devices by which thesupport for the rupturable disc is normally held against movement, the object of the present invention being to secure greater compactness, greater adaptability to release elther manually or automatically, easier adjustment, better protection against accidental release, and greater sensitiveness in operation, requiring less force to retain the parts in closed position and to prevent the release of the fluid. The invention will be explained more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing in which it is illustrated and in which:

Figure 1 is a view in sectional elevation of a structure which embodies the invention in approved form.

igure 2 is a view of the same in elevation as seen from the right hand in Figure 1, a

portion of the protection cap being also sf k is. At a it is formed with a seat to receive a rupturable sealing disc I) and is threaded internally toreceive a bushing 0 by which the seal is pressed tightly against the seat a The base or body is also threaded externall'y to receive a housing 03 which sup,- ports the devices to be described and has a connection, as at 0?, for the conduit through which the released fluid is to be conducted to theplace of use. This outlet is closed during transportation of the equipment, by a plug 01 provided with a'small outlet d through which, in the event of development of abnormal pressure, the fluid may escape, the plug being sealed against-improper manipulation by a sealing wire d. The seal 6 is supported a ainst the internal pressureof the contents 0% which may take the form of a plunger with a free working fit within the bushing 0. As shown the bore of the bushing is larger than the opening a between the container and the I chamber 0 the bushing and the support e supports the seal 1) externally over an area such that the seal will not give way to the normal internal pressure in the container. The support has a bore 0 considerably smaller than the outlet a and communicating, as at e with the chamber of the housing (land the discharge outlets d (i The area of the seal thus left unsupported is relatively small so that the seal will not give way under normal internal pressure but will give away if the, internal pressure rises above a predetermined degree. When however, the support e is released and is ree to movethe seal'will be ruptured by the internal pressure-and the contents of the container will be permitted thereby to escape in volume. All of the parts thus far described are arranged and operate substantially as described in the said Patent No. 1,751,705.

The support 6 is normally restrained from movement by two toggles f, f, the toggle f bearing against the end of a stem e of the support e, the toggle f bearing against an adjusting screw f, and the two toggles bearing against each other at their heels, as at 7, in a point which is at one side of the line between the upper and lower bearing points of the two toggles, pressure against the lower point of the tog le f tending to cause the toggles to swing further from such line. To prevent such movement of the toggles until the contents of the container are to be released, pressure is applied to one of the toggles, such as the lower toggle, and it is with the means for so restraining the toggles from movement under normal conditions but permitting the movement to take place when the contents of the container are to be released that the present invention is particularly concerned and will now be described.

A lever, preferably bent as shown and preferably consisting of two parts g, g, pivotally connected, as at 9 is pivoted to the housing (1, as at g ,-and is arranged to bear normally against the toggle 7, preferably through an adjusting screw 9 Obviously the lever 9,9 operates practically as a single lever, but may be made in two parts, pivotally connected to each other, as shown, to avoid danger of binding and also for convenience in manufacture and assembling. The lever or the part g thereof is bent in substantially U-shape and is rotatably mounted at one end on a vertical axis and the point of bearing of the adjusting screw is offset, opposite the bend of the lever, rom a line through the axis of the lever and the pivotal connection ofthe two parts of the lever. When the lever is made in two parts, as shown, the part g may be en ported on a projection (i on a pillar d of the housing d;

It will be noted that the toggle f is provided with screw threads 9 for engagement with co-operatin threads on the adjusting screw 9, which fiears at one end, as at g, against the art 1 of the twoart lever g, g, and at t 1e 0t er end is slotte as at g, for manipulation with a screwriver or similar tool.

' A detent or link It, adapted to separate under the influence of relativel high temperature, either by fusin or by urning, but

preferabl a flammable hnk of celluloid, havmg combined therewith an electrical resistance wire by which the link is ignited when the circuit of the resistance wire is closed, is engaged through one of its eyelets with a stud d carried by the pillar d of the housing, and through the other of its eyelets with a screw g carried by the lever g, 9. So long as the link It is intact and in engagement as described, it holds the lever g, g in position to prevent movement of the toggles, but when the link separates, as by fusing or burning, or is disengaged by being slipped from the stud (Z the lever g, g is released and permits the toggles f, f to move thereby releasing the support 0 and permitting the c0ntents of the container to rupture the seal 6 and to be discharged in volume.

It will be observed that the adjustable bearing screw 9* and the adjustable bearing screw 7 permit nice adjustment to be secured and that the parts are so formed, related and proportioned as to prevent release with the exercise of slight restraining force, so that the link It can be of light construction and therefore easily destroyed by heat and easily released by manually operated means,wh1le at the same time all parts are securely held against accidental release. It will be observed also that the construction permits of the isolation' of the electrical connections at the posts h hflon an insulating base It secured to the top of the housing.

For the manual release of the link It there is provided a lever 71, pivoted at 11 and having at 2' a hook to engage the link and at 2' a surface to bear against the link and push it from the stud d when the lever is swung on its pivot as by a pull on a cable 2'". The lower end of the lever is further formed, as at 2", for engagement with a spring 2' which serves to )revent accidental movement of the lever.

t will be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the release of a fire extinguishing medium and that various changes in details of construction and arrangement can be made to suit different conditions of use and that the invention, except as pointed out in the accompanying claims, is not restricted to the particular construction shown and described herein.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of the character described and adapted for application to a container for fluid under pressure, a movable means acting normally to prevent the release of fluid from the container, a toggle lever normally cooperating with said means to prevent movement thereof, a lever having two parts pivotally connected and arranged to bear against the toggle lever to prevent movement thereof a support for one of the parts of the second named lever, and a detent normally engaging said part of said second named lever to prevent movement of the lever.

2. In a device of the character described and adapted for application to a container for fluid under pressure, a movable means acting normally to prevent the release of fluid from the container, a toggle lever normally cooperating with said means to prevent movement thereof, a lever arranged to bear against the toggle lever to prevent movement thereof, a detent normally engaging the second part of said second named'lever to second named lever, a stud en aglng said deprevent movement of the lever. tent, and means to disengage t e detent from the stud and thereby release the second named January, A. 1929.

lever.

3. In a device of the character described and adapted for application to a container for fluid under pressure, a movable means 7 acting normally to preventthe release'of fluid from the container, a, toggle lever normally cooperating with said means to prevent movement thereof, a lever arranged to bear against the toggle lever to prevent movement thereof a detent normally engaging the second name lever, a stud en aging said detent, and a lever in operative re? the second namedle'ver.

.4. In a device of the character described and adapted for application to a container .for fluid under pressure, a' movable means acting normally to prevent the release of fluid from the container, a toggle lever normally cooperating with said means to prevent movement thereof, a lever arranged to bear against the toggle lever to prevent movement thereof, a detent normally engaging the second named lever, a stud engagingsaid detent, a lever in operative relation with the detent topush the same from the stud and thereby release the second named lever and a device normally engaging the detent to prevent accidental disengagement of the do tent from the stud. 1 t

'5. In a device of the character described and adapted for application to a container for fluid under pressure, a movable means acting normally. to prevent the release of fluid fromtlie container, a toggle lever 'normally cooperating with said means to prevent movement thereof, a substantially U- shaped lever rotatably mounted at one end and arranged to bear opposite such. end

against the toggle lever to prevent movement thereof, and'a detent normally engaging the second named lever to prevent movement thereof.

6. In a device of the character described and adapted for application to a container for fluid under pressure, a movable means acting normally to prevent the release of fluid from the container, a toggle lever normally cooperating with said means to preventmovement thereof, a lever having'two arts pivotally connected and arranged to ear against the toggle lever to prevent movement thereof, one of said pa'rtsbeing substantially U-shaped and rotatably mountedat one end, the lever having a bearm against the tog le lever opposite its mounting at a point 0 set from a line through the point of mounting of the lever andthe pivotal connection of the two parts of the lever, a support for the second part of the second named lever, and a detent normally engaging said I ation with the detent to usb the same from the stud and thereby re ease 

